Wherever Damian had disappeared to with those scary-looking guys, he never returned to the party. Well past the time people should have been drifting out the door, they continued to stay, likely wondering what was going on with Damian.

I had to get out of here. I was so tired of smiling the fake smile I’d plastered to my face. While it was probably true that none of the guests realized how mad I was at Damian, the night had been a complete challenge.

He pitied me. Bastard! I wanted his comfort and understanding, maybe even his love, but his pity? Never! I wasn’t helpless. Sure, I was going to make Damian’s driver, James, stay with me until I was safely locked inside our home, considering it was already past dark, but that didn’t mean I deserved anyone’s pity.

Still, how could he just leave me here? These were his friends and contacts. I’d only met them tonight. I didn’t have the first clue about how to get them to leave either.

My salvation came in the form of Sally. She bustled through the door and took a quick sweep of the room, finding me and making a beeline in my direction.

Through my relief, I managed a real smile. “What are you doing here? You were supposed to have tonight off.”

She held up her cell phone. “Got an S.O.S. text from your husband. He asked me to help you close out the party and to make sure you got home safe.”

Well, at least Damian hadn’t forgotten his promise to always make sure I had someone with me after darkness fell. I felt bad for Sally, since she’d basically been with me any second my parents were at work, hanging out in the tiny family apartment. She deserved some time off, but I was happy to see her.

“Thanks for coming.”

Sally grinned. “Of course. You’re more family than boss. I’ll always be here for you. Now, let’s get the guests cleared out. What is Damian doing, anyway?”

I gave a helpless shrug. “Some rough types came in and he left with them. Everyone’s sticking around, probably to see what happened. I wasn’t sure what the polite way to get them to leave was, but I’m exhausted.”

“I bet.” Sally flashed another smile before making her way to the small stage area where we’d made announcements earlier. After fiddling with the mic, she tapped it, causing soft booms to reverberate through the party hall. “Excuse me, everyone, but it’s getting rather late. Damian apologizes that he couldn’t return, but he’s ever so happy you were all able to meet Bella. He sends his regards and wishes you all a lovely night. Soon, we’ll hold a rally, and Damian would love to have your continued support.”

Like magic, people’s fears were assuaged, and they made their rounds to say goodbye, no longer curious about Damian’s whereabouts. I wished I had made an announcement like that hours ago. However, at least Sally came to my rescue.

I couldn’t help but be upset with Damian. Even if he did send Sally to help me, he still left me in the middle of our wedding reception. What could be so important? When Sally at long last ushered me inside the waiting limo and James had shut the door, I turned to her.

“Did Damian say anything to you about where he’s gone?”

Sally shook her head. “Just told me to get here pronto to help, and then didn’t reply to my return message. Up to his old tricks of not communicating with you, huh? I swear, that man isn’t husband material. What do you see in him?”

Over the past few weeks, I’d wondered if Sally figured out my relationship with Damian was a farce. She always asked pointed questions about why I stayed with him and what I found attractive about him. Feeling as if I were at my breaking point, I leaned against my friend’s shoulder, letting my tears flow that I’d held in for so long.

“Our marriage is a sham. We met at a match-making party a couple months ago and were married that night. Of course, you can’t tell anyone this, or I’ll have to sue you with his piles of money.” A hysterical giggle escaped me, followed by a sob.

Sally patted my back soothingly as the car drove toward the Hudson apartment. “No worries about that. I’m already under a strict confidentiality contract with the things I signed before Damian hired me as your aide and companion.” She continued patting me in silence, letting me cry myself out.

When we were almost home, she handed me a couple tissues from her purse. Once I’d cleaned my face up, she let out a little sigh. “I guess this answers my questions. That’s also the reason you’re returning to his apartment tonight instead of your parents’, right?”

I nodded. “I don’t have a choice. Now that he’s back in town, I have to stay with him. Before, I already challenged him and refused to come home that one night, but you wouldn’t believe the penalties that I’m looking at if I don’t obey my master and he complains to the matchmaker.”

“Your master? Hell no!”

I laughed at her indignation. “All part of the contract, though Damian claims he doesn’t want to have a contract marriage and wants more.”

“He’s got a funny way of showing it.”

“Yes, I agree.” As James pulled up in front of the apartment’s lobby and opened the door for Sally and me, our conversation broke off. It’d be one thing if James overheard—I was sure he’d also signed a confidentiality agreement with Damian—but anyone in the building hearing us was out of the question. Even if I was angry with Damian right now, I wouldn’t do anything to hurt his public image. My entire purpose was to help his election chances. That meant playing the dutiful wife.

That was the only reason I’d stayed at the party tonight. Image was everything in this world. Damian already caused a stir by leaving his guests. He’d better have a damn good reason if he wanted out of the doghouse anytime soon.

When we walked into the apartment, Sally headed straight for the kitchen. While I took off my party dress, the comforting smell of fresh coffee permeated the apartment.

“Here you go,” Sally said, walking into my room with a cup, handing it to me where I sat curled up in the window seat, looking out at the city below.

“Thanks. You don’t have to stay now, Sally. I’ll be okay since I’m inside.” I took an appreciative sip of the coffee, flashing her a smile to let her know I’d be fine.

“You’re stronger than you were a few months ago,” she noted, sitting next to me instead of leaving. “I’m worried that before long, I’ll be out of a job. You don’t need me as much as you did before.”

“No way! If I ever get over my fear of the dark, I’ll still need an assistant while we’re campaigning.”

She grinned. “Besides, Damian likes throwing money around. We’ll let him pay for us to hang out.”

That made me laugh. “I think of you like a sister, but I have to admit, your ideas on taking Damian’s money are so much more progressive than my brothers’ and parents’ views.”

“Hey, if he wants to give out free money, your folks should get over it and snatch up those bank cards. If they don’t want to move out of their apartment, fine, but I bet Damian would buy the entire building and let them live there rent free. They should just accept it.”

She was right. Maybe it was a stupid thing to have a month-long fight over. “Why didn’t you say how you felt about this earlier? You’ve let me go on being mad every time my brothers grumble.”

Sally shrugged. “Before, I thought this was a lovers’ quarrel and something I shouldn’t get in the middle of. Now that I know it’s a business partner fight, it’s a bit different. Why don’t you just tell your parents that this is a contract marriage. Damian owes you money, so they aren’t taking anything that hasn’t been earned. It’s not charity, it’s your income.”

Oh, if only I could confide in them and solve this entire fight. Of course, it could never happen. My parents would be more mortified if they learned I hadn’t married for love. That would be worse than thinking Damian had tried to buy them off.

Before I could explain that to Sally the front door opened, and hard-soled shoes tapped across the marble flooring. Sally and I both tensed, staring at the open bedroom door.

She turned to give me a half smile, looking worried. “Looks like he’s home. Need me to stay?”

I quickly shook my head. “Told you, I’m required to do what he wants. I’m sure he’ll send you away. I’ll be fine. No matter what, I don’t believe Damian would purposely hurt me, physically or emotionally. He’s a good guy, we’re just too different to entirely understand each other.”

Sally gave a gentle squeeze to my forearm and then rose, walking toward the door. “Then I’ll go back to my date of the night. Truth is, he’s a bit boring. I’m sure the nighttime fun won’t take long at all. If you need me, don’t hesitate to call.”

I waved her toward the door with a nod, though I would never interrupt her night off. I wouldn’t have done so tonight if the choice had been left to me. Yet another thing Damian had been high-handed about without considering if that would be what I wanted.

No. Wait. That wasn’t fair. He’d promised never to leave me alone after darkness fell. I had to give the man credit. Calling Sally fulfilled that promise. No matter how upset I was with him, I needed to keep that in mind. He might have been a jerk for leaving, but calling Sally was a good thing—even if I felt guilt at interrupting her time off.

Damian strode into the room, looking for all the world as though he expected me to welcome him with a smile. “Good, you made it home. Everything worked out at the party, right?”

Not trusting myself to speak without snapping, I simply gazed at him, trying to calm the pounding of my heart as the anger I’d been dealing with for the past month bubbled up again. How could he be so cavalier about this?

“You’re pissed, huh?” He walked toward me, holding out his hand in an obvious demand I take it.

Setting my coffee cup aside, I had no choice but to do what he wanted. I placed my hand in his, still not speaking.

“Look,” he said, “I know it wasn’t ideal that I left, but everyone has been texting me, telling me how lovely you are and that they had a great time. You did good. I’m proud of you. You fulfilled your part tonight. Followed our contract to the letter.”

So, his attitude had changed because he decided to look at this as a contract and not a relationship? That should make me happy, but somehow there was a slight pang in my heart. What was wrong with me?

“Why did you leave?” I finally asked, gripping his hand as hard as I could in the only outlet for my frustration. “You just left me with all those strangers!”

“I wouldn’t have gone if there was any choice.” His voice was low and hoarse. “This isn’t how I imagined our reunion tonight.”

“What?” I asked, letting my cattiness creep into my voice. “Did you think we’d make love once you returned from Albany?”

“Dammit!” He suddenly yanked my hand, pulling me tight against his chest. “Yes, okay! I’ve wanted you for so long, and this all is bullshit. Why do you have to question me about everything and look so goddamn judgmental? All I want is to fuck my wife and then go to sleep! Can’t I get something I want for once in this damn contract?”

“Fine.” I stripped my robe off, letting it fall to the ground before jerking off my panties. Yanking at the buttons on his shirt, I made record time undoing them and bared his chest.

He stared at me, eyes narrowed. “What are you doing?”

“Giving you what you want,” I answered. “I have to, right?”

I pushed him backward until his legs hit the bed, forcing him to sit. Before he had a chance to react, I undid his pants, running my fingertip down the front of his slacks, somehow satisfied when his cock jumped immediately to life.

“Take those off,” I ordered, still pissed but taking a perverse pleasure in telling him what to do.

He hurried to obey, soon sitting back down completely naked. I sank between his legs, kneeling on the floor. Taking his shaft within my hand, I stroked him up and down until he was as stiff as I’d ever seen it. A small bead of juice sat on the tip, and I lowered my mouth, licking it ever so gently.

Damian let out an inarticulate moan, his hands tightening in my hair. Knowing what he wanted without him having to speak, I sucked him inside my mouth, deep throating it all the way. I squeezed his balls, knowing that along with the pleasure of my mouth on his pulsating cock, I also gave him a touch of pain. It was the way I liked it. Sex was better this way.

I’d give him so much pleasure, he’d regret staying away so long.

As I continued sucking him off, I tried not to think about that stray thought, but it kept coming to my mind. Was that the real reason I was pissed off? Not because of the money thing, but because he’d been gone so long and hadn’t once come to see me and try to make things right? Had I missed him?

Just as the change in his heavy breathing told me he was about to cum, I released him from my mouth. I squeezed his balls with enough pressure to stop his orgasm.

“Ouch! What the hell?” he grumbled.

Not paying his pain any mind, I shoved him on the bed, climbing over the top of him. There was no foreplay, no art, no love between us. I simply wanted him inside me. Not waiting for him to catch up with the change, I sat on him, impaling myself on his huge cock and loving the slight sting of pain that came with the entry. While he had yet to touch me, I was lubed up enough to make this work.

I rocked myself back and forth, grasping his hands and thrusting them onto my breasts. “Hurt me!”

“No.” His voice came out in a growl. “I’m not going to hurt you anymore. I don’t care what you do to me, but I won’t hurt you.”

“Pussy,” I taunted, grasping my nipples myself and twisting them.

Deep pleasure raced through me, but in a few seconds my world flipped upside down as Damian rolled us and took top position.

I struggled beneath him, trying to regain control, but he was too strong. “Stop,” I ordered. “I don’t want it this way.”

“Well, I don’t want whatever the hell you’re doing.” His anger was stronger than I’d ever seen it. “You can’t keep forcing me to hurt you. All I want is to love you!”

He thrust inside me repeatedly, but it was somehow gentler than anything he’d ever done. As we both panted, he brought his lips close, loving my mouth with his tongue, which I refused to open up and accept. Pissed, I clawed at his back, doing what I could to get him to either get off me or fight back and give me the pain I needed.

He nibbled my lower lip gently, sucking it into his mouth as he lay on me with his full weight. He stopped thrusting, giving no responses to the way I lashed out to hurt him.

“Claw at me if you must,” he said after releasing me from his kiss. “I deserve it. I’ll accept it. Do whatever you want to me, but I will not hurt you anymore.”

I could hear the finality in his voice. He wasn’t going to react, wouldn’t do what I tried to get him to do. Was this his way of loving me? Why? I couldn’t understand.

Suddenly, he propped himself up on one elbow, not taking himself out of my body, but not trying to have sex anymore either. With his free hand, he feathered the hair from my forehead, my sweat making it cling to my skin and his fingers.

“I won’t hurt you,” he repeated, softer this time. “You’ve been through so much, but I won’t do what you’re asking. I can’t anymore. Please, just let me love you. All I want is to love you.”

Tears sprung to my eyes, unbidden. I couldn’t understand. Why would I cry? The anger and fight flowed out of me, and I gave up trying to stop the tears from falling.

Damian simply continued stroking my hair, kissing my tears up as soon as they fell.

“Why?” I asked. “Why do I matter to you? You wanted to fuck. Let me give that to you and let’s go to sleep.”

He shook his head, the sorrow behind his eyes making my heart ache even more. “What I’d really longed to do all this time is make love to you, not... whatever this was.”

I squirmed under him, no longer able to stand his kindness. How could I keep up my anger and protect myself if he continued to act like this? I’d tried to trust him once before, but he was just like everyone else. Trusting people was stupid. He’d gone against what I said, alienated my family, and then left me to fend for myself for another month.

While I couldn’t understand what he wanted from me, I knew the one thing I couldn’t afford to give him. My heart had to be off the table. Things would never work between us. Lying to myself about what I could do and forcing myself to try to trust him would only end in further heartache. Every relationship I’d ever tried had been the same. There was nothing different about him. He left me today, alone in the middle of a party that was supposed to celebrate our relationship. He couldn’t be trusted, no matter what honeyed words he tried to whisper in the night.

When my squirming had no effect on releasing me from beneath him, I finally glared up at his blue, sorrowful eyes. “I won’t make love to you. Stop saying stuff like that.”

The emptiness as he pulled out of me nearly made me take my words back. My body certainly didn’t want him to go away, but I clung to my anger like a shield.

“Fine,” he murmured. “Good night.”

With that, he walked to the door, not looking back at me once. I tried to tell myself I’d imagined the quaver of sadness in his voice as he left the room.